drain

Definition of drain

transitive verb

2a: to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely drained all the water out of the poolb: to cause the gradual disappearance of drain the region's wealthc: to exhaust (see 1exhaust 1b) physically or emotionally feeling drained at the end of a long workday

3a: to make gradually dry drain a swampb: to carry away the surface water of the river that drains the valleyc: to deplete or empty by or as if by drawing off by degrees or in increments drained the country of its resourcesd: to empty by drinking the contents of drain a mug of beer

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of drain

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency. deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function. depleting our natural resourcesdrain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence. personal tragedy had drained him of all spiritexhaust stresses a complete emptying. her lecture exhausted the subjectimpoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness. impoverished soilbankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse. war had bankrupted the nation of resources

2

drain

noun

Definition of drain

1: a means (such as a pipe) by which usually liquid matter is drained

2a: the act of drainingb: a gradual outflow or withdrawal :depletiona net drain from the East of five million souls — G. W. Pierson

Recent Examples of drain from the Web

Christopher Newton, 23, was working as a carrier assistant in Northeast Washington in May 2016 when WJLA-7 television news notified his superiors of mail found in a storm drain near the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, authorities said.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.